Libby's Live Project

Mangamahu Valley

‘Mangamahu Valley, A Photographic Project Exploring Rural New Zealand’s Landscape’ is a practical photographic research project which investigates the locality of rural Aotearoa New Zealand by employing documentary photography. Mangamahu Valley is a rural farming and forestry region situated in the middle reaches of the Whangaehu River valley, 50km northeast of Whanganui. ‘Mangamahu Valley’ represents and exemplifies the value of the rural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand to those who are not familiar with this environment. This is done by focusing on the details and structures typically not shown in traditional landscape photography. This project is grounded in my experience growing up in Mangamahu Valley before leaving to pursue University in Wellington. It was not until I left that I understood how significant the difference is between a rural region and a bustling city. Now I have experienced both ways of life, I am in a good position to undertake this project responding photographically to this specific rural landscape. After 17 years of residing in Mangamahu Valley, I thought there wouldn’t be more to unpack and photograph, however, that was far from the truth. Revisiting the region brought with it something new, and this raised the question, how could I visually respond to an ever-changing environment? Through the act of photographing, I became more aware of the landscape and what it holds. Details that I missed became apparent, and landscapes that were once mundane to me, I saw in a different light. Throughout this project, I travelled to Mangamahu during Autumn, Winter, and Spring. This extended time between trips not only gave me breathing room to revise my work, but allowed me to photograph the change in seasons, and ultimately, the landscape. Frosty morning paddocks adorned with wild peacocks gave way to bleating flocks of spring lambs. Vibrant trees that hung over the roads gradually lost their leaves and revealed evergreens hidden in their wake. Each twisting corner revealed a new narrative for me to capture, and that becomes apparent as the pages reveal what was in front of my camera. ‘Manga’ meaning stream and ‘mahu’ meaning gentle, Mangamahu simply translates to gentle stream; a perfect description of a quiet and peaceful location. I believe there is much to learn and understand from rural places. Their changing landscapes, sparseness of people, and enduring structures challenge our sense of understanding and invite us to think about our place in the world.

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